The De La X Sweep is a hybrid guard sweep combining the De La Riva hook with an X-guard-style inside leg entanglement. It enables the bottom player to off-balance and elevate a standing opponent, creating a high-percentage path to top position. This sweep is especially valuable for transitioning from open guard to strong passing positions.
Start
De La X (DLR + X-guard hook)
End
Top
Prerequisites: De La Riva hook retention · Basic X-guard entry · Off-balancing with sleeve/pant grips · Technical stand-up mechanics
Steps
1
Establish De La X Position
From open guard, insert your outside leg as a classic De La Riva hook (shin across their shin, foot laced behind their knee), and thread your inside leg deep, hooking your instep behind their far thigh in an X-guard fashion. Secure a pant grip at their near ankle with your same-side hand, and grip their far ankle or pant leg with your other hand.
2
Angle Your Hips and Load Their Weight
Shift your hips slightly under their centerline, keeping your De La Riva hook active and your inside X-hook tight behind their far thigh. Pull their ankles toward you while extending your hips, loading their weight onto your hooks.
3
Elevate and Stretch with X-Hook
Drive your inside X-hook upward and outward (toward the ceiling and away from your body) while simultaneously pulling their far ankle toward your shoulder. Your De La Riva hook should flare outward, destabilizing their base.
4
Kick and Extend for Sweep
With their base compromised, kick your De La Riva hook outward and extend your X-hook upward in a coordinated motion, aiming to lift their hips and force them to post or fall.
5
Guide Their Fall and Release Grips
As they begin to topple, maintain your grips to guide their direction. Release the pant grip on their far leg as their hips become level with yours, preparing to come up.
6
Technical Stand-Up to Top
Thread your inside leg under you, plant your free hand on the mat, and perform a technical stand-up. Keep control of their near ankle to prevent them from recovering guard.
7
Secure Top Position
Drive forward, using your free arm to underhook or cross-face as you settle into knee-cut or headquarters passing position, establishing dominant top control.
Key details most people miss
The inside X-hook must be deep, with your knee pointing outward and your instep tight behind their far thigh for maximum elevation.
Angle your hips slightly under their base before initiating the sweep—being too square reduces leverage.
Maintain active tension on both ankle grips throughout the elevation to control their direction and prevent them from stepping out.
During the technical stand-up, keep your chest low and your head up to avoid being re-guarded or counter-swept.
Common mistakes
Allowing the X-hook to slip shallow lets the opponent retract their leg and kill the sweep.
Failing to control the far ankle allows the opponent to widen their base and resist elevation.
Trying to sweep with hips too far away results in weak leverage and inability to lift their weight.
Standing up without controlling their ankle lets the opponent recover guard or scramble to their knees.
Counters & responses
They try: Opponent backsteps out of De La X hooks
You do: Switch to a single leg X-guard or transition to a tripod sweep by re-gripping and following their movement.
They try: Opponent posts their far hand to base
You do: Redirect the sweep angle by pulling their near ankle across your centerline and attacking a single leg or ankle pick.
They try: Opponent strips your ankle grip
You do: Immediately transition to collar-and-sleeve control (gi) or wrist control (no-gi) and attack a sit-up guard sweep.
They try: Opponent drops their knee to pin your X-hook
You do: Use your De La Riva hook to off-balance them laterally and invert to attack a back take or berimbolo.
Drill prescription
6 rounds × 2 min; 50% resistance; alternate top/bottom; goal: 4 clean sweeps to top per round, with technical stand-up and top control established each time.
How the masters teach it
Lucas Lepri
Emphasizes seamless transition from De La Riva to X-guard hooks for high-percentage sweeps in both gi and no-gi.
BJJ Fanatics
Leandro Lo
Known for dynamic open guard work, blending De La X sweeps with immediate knee-cut passing.